Mechanical projector



Sept. 2, 1941. J, E. SCALLY v MECHANICAL PROJECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1939 R.U/ mmw EC .M Qm E/ y J B A? 5 6 Z 3 5 4 w 6 )r u ut 3 F F N r 0 3/ W 4 a u 5 H L) M J n 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

J. E. SCALLY MECHANICAL PROJECTOR Filed Nov. 15, 1939 Sept. 2, 1941 Sept. 2, 1941. J. E. SCALLY MECHANICAL PROJECTOR.

Filed Nov. 15, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (1759 04 5 5C XMV ATTORNEY Sept. 2, 1941. J. E. SCALLY MECHANICAL PROJECTOR Filed Nov. l5, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .0, H m H 0 V5 m m T A f Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE MECHANICAL PROJECTOR Joseph E. Scally, St. Louis, Mo. Application November '15, 1939, Serial No. 304,512

This invention relates to a mechanical projector of the type suitable for throwing baseballs.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanical projector suitable for throwing projectiles suchas baseballs, which is simple in construction and efficient and safe in operation.

A specific object is to provide novel releasing mechanism for releasing the projectile whichv will be. positive in operation, and which will be efiective to release the ball to give. substantially the same trajectory. in successive operations, but

line 3-3, Fig. 1, also. showing .details of the ieeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing of the machine;

the right side Fig. 5 is a section on line 5,-5, Fig. 4, showing details. ofa slide and itsv mounting of releasing mechanism; h

V Fig. .6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 4, showing details of the slide and its mounting;

Fig. 7 is a view along line l'|, Fig. 4, showing details of the releasing mechanism;

Fig. '8 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 9 is a view approximately on line 9-3,

Fig. '1'0is a view approximately on line lll|0, Fig.8i" I Fig;11 is asectionon line lll I, Fig.

. Fig. '12 is a horizontal section on line '12-|2,

Fig.8;and"

Figs;'13, 14, 15 and 16 are views showing the relationship of parts of the releasing mechanism at concentric points in the cycle of operation.

A wheel, cylinder or propeller l is mounted on a shaft 2- by which it is rotated. The Wheel has a spiral track or guide 3 by which or along which a projectile or ball B is moved from the central portion of the wheel outwardly towards its periphery to a point on the periphery where itis caught and held by a gate 4, which is a part of releasing mechanism. Balls B are fed byautomatic mechanism, shown in assembly in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8, and shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. Release mechanism, which includes the gate 4,

gate 4 and permit the ball to be projected by centrifugal force "at a selected point of travel and on a particular revolution-in a cycleof operation. For instance, the mechanism may be adapted to release the ball each 120th revolution. The; release mechanism is shown on the near side of the device, Fig. 4, and on the right side of the device, Fig. 8, while its details are shown.

in Figs. 5; 6, 7, 9, 10 and-11; with Figs. 13 to 16 showing progressive points in a cycle of operation. The mechanismis arranged torelease the ballet a pointin the revolution of the wheel or propeller when it is near the bottom. The particular point at whichit is released may be adjusted by means which include a swinging frame 5 that carries some elements of the release mech- The plate 8 has a circular opening 8a at its cenopening in the peripheral piece 9 at the gate 4.

It may now be understood that balls may be fed through the opening 8a to the interior of the housing of the wheel or propeller I and that when they travel a spiral path as defined by the i strip 3" to ancpenmg in the rim of the wheel where theyare held on the terminal strip ID by the gate 4 until released by mechanism at a proper point in the cycle of operation.

The shaft 2 is supported onhorizontal mem- ,bers ll which'are a part of a frame which includes a base l2 and uprights- 13. may bernounted as illustrated, or its base may be mounted on a swivel.

A guard M is secured to the frame and supported by radial members I5 having their inner endssecured to yokes l6, supported by the horizontal frame members H. I I

The wheel lis driven through a pulley ll keyed to the shaft 2 and a belt [8 by a motor I9 supported on the base l2.

The balls may be fed tothe wheel by hand if desired, or they 'may be fed by automatic means as illustrated in the drawings and presis so arranged and constructed as to unlatch the ently described. v Communicating troughs 20 (Fig.

Th device 1), the lower one of which is curved to discharge the balls through the opening 8a (Figs. 2 and 3) and providing a magazine for the balls and a path for their discharge to the propeller. This discharge is controlled by a pair of spaced gates 21 and 22 arranged to be operated in sequence. The gates 2| and 22 are arranged to be lowered and raised into and out of the path of the balls and are operated alternately for example at 180 intervals with respect to each other in the operation of the cyle of the machine. The gates 2| mechanism 28 which is operated through a sprocket chain 29 from the shaft 2. The reducing mechanism 28 is such that it operatesinsynchronism with the ball releasing mechanism later to be described in detail. For instance, if the ball is to be released once in each 120 revolutions the shaft 21 willbe so geared through the reducer 28 that it will operate on a ratio of 1 to 128 in relation to the shaft 2. 3

The release mechanismmay now be described in detail. 'The gate 4 is secured to a shaft 38 by screws 3| while the shaft is journalled in ears 32 supported by a framework 34 fastened to the wheel 1 (see Fig.5). 'A'weight 35 is carried by the outer end of an arm 36 secured to the shaft 38. The shaft 38 also carriesja dog 31 by which the gate 4 is held and released.

A slide 38 is mounted in a guide 38 on the face of the'plate 6 of the wheel I. The outer end of the slide 38 'has a member 48 to engage the It may now beunderstood thatas the slide 38 moves outwardly it. engages the dog dog .31.

31, holds the shaft 38 against rotation and thereby positions the gate 4.to retain the ball onthe wheel until the slide 38 is moved in-- wardly so that the member 48 is out of engagement with the dog 31.

Mechanism is provided for moving the slide. 38 inwardly at a certain point in i the cycle of operation. This mechanism is mounted on the. swingingframe 5 about the shaft 2 so that it may be adjusted in an arcuate. path with the axis of the wheel I as its center. The frame includes a front upright 4l,. 9. bottom cross member 42 andbrace members 43 at its front (Figs. 4 and 12). *At its rear it has an upright-member 44; The front and rear portions are secured together by a bottom lateral member 45 and lateral braces 46 (Fig. 12). v The slide 38 supports a dog 41 whichisadapted-to;be engaged-by the-end of an arm 48 and also by the end of an arm 49 mounted radially on--a timing member ordisc :58. The arrangement is such that the end of the-arm .48

the shaft 54 is driven at the same rate as the shaft 2 but the gears 56 and 51 have a different number of teeth so that the shaft 58 and therefore the timing member or disc 58 is driven at either a slightly less or a slightly greater speed than the wheel I. As shown on the drawings (Figs. 13 to 16) the disc 58 is driven faster than the wheel I or shaft 2. For example, the gear 56 may have 121 teeth while the gear 51 may have 120'teeth; thus the timing disc 58 will rotate 121 revolutions while the wheel I rotates 128 revolutions. Now it may be understood that the arm 48 will come into engaging position under such a specific arrangement of gears once in each 120 revolutions of the wheel I.

The operation of the release mechanism may be explained by reference to Figs. 13 to 16. Under the example given in which the cycle com- 128 revolutions the end ofthe arm 48 is about prises 120 revolutions, the position of the mechanism at the 119th revolution of the shaft ,2 will be'as shown in Fig. 13. It will be seen there that the dog 41 and the arm 48 do not quite contact. But in Fig. 14 at about the end of the to contact the dog-41 while shortly'thereafter, as shown in Fig. 15, this contact has been made and the slide 38 has been moved to release the latch 48, from i the dog 31, integral with the. gate 4, so that the gate is free to swing and release the ball B.

Fig. 16 illustrates the condition of V the apparatuswhich may occur after the release of the gate and the. ball. The mechanism is in con- -1 dition .as .it may-be atithe end .of the first revolution of. a cycle. .The gatehas assumed a position in whichlit is not caught and held by contact ofthe member 48 and the, dog 31. This may happen or may not happen depending on chance. But in the position'as shown in Fig. 16 the gate 4.-will not hold a ball and this condition requiresicorrection, which is accomplished by the arm 49 which'is 90 removed from the arm 48 and which will .comeinto engagement 3 with the dog 41 on the 30th revolution (assuming the example as indicated above) or at the .end of a 90 period! When the arm 48 moves the slide 38 from the'position shown in Fig. 16;the weight by its centrifugal force willv rotate the gate 4 in a counterclockwise direction until the weight extends radially and the dog.31' is "posi tioned on the-member 48. 'Whenjhe ball B is then introduced it contacts the gate and moves it and its associated parts to, the'position'shown 1 in Fig. 13.

adapted to come intoengagement with the dog 41 to move the slide 38 at one point inthe cycle of operation. For example, the timing member, or disc 50 may be driven in such a manner-that- 48 once in the slide 38 will be moved-by the arm 120 revolutions of the wheel I. l v The rotation of the disc 58 isinitiated by a gear 51 secured to the shaft 2 which, through an idler 52, drives a gear 53 securedto a shaft 54. The idler 52 is mounted in acage or frame 55 on the front upright 4| of the frame 5. and the shaft 54 has its ends journalled respectively in the frame members 43 and 44. V

- The shaft 54 carries a gear 56 meshing with and driving a gear 51 on a shaft 58, which also carries the disc or timing member 58. v I

The arrangement of the gears is such that Since the frame 5. which carries with it-and supports the timing disc 58 may be adjusted accurately *the' ball may'f bereleased at any predetermined "position of the wheel within limits. Means for adjusting the position of the frame 5, and therefore the point at which theball may be r'elased, 'i's illustrated in Figs. 4, 8 and12.

An adjustment board 59 is supported by a frame :7 68 'secui ed'tothe cross member H and the base 12 .ofthe principal frame. This board 59 has arcuate slots 6|. through which extend pins 62 carried bythe frame member 42 of the frame 5. Nuts 63 on the pins 62 serve to clamp the swingingframe in any' adjusted position on the board5 9. j a

fVarious' changes may be made in the details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of. this inventiongand parts ofthe invention may be used to ad'vantage'without the whole.

I claim: 1. In game apparatus of the class described having a propeller and means for continuously rotating the propeller at a substantially constant speed, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate hinged on the extremity of the propeller for'retainin'g a projectile, a reciprocating latch mounted on the propeller and engaging the gate, and timing mechanism for moving the latch automatically to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cyle'which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller.

2. In game apparatus of the class described having a propeller, means for continuously rotating the propeller at a substantially constant speed and a spiral guide on the propeller adapted to receive a projectile near the axis of the propeller and leading to a point on the extremity thereof, holding and releasing means for the projectile comprising a gate hinged on the extremity of the propeller for retaining the projectile at said point, a reciprocating latch mounted on the propeller and engaging the gate, and timing mechanism for moving the latch automatically to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the 5 tremity of the propeller for retaining the projectile at said point, a reciprocating latch mounted on the propeller and engaging the gate, and timing mechanism for moving the latch automatically to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller, and automatic feeding means for introducing a projectile to said guide during each of said cycles.

4. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate, a shaft to which the gate is secured mounted on the extremity of the propeller, a dog on the outer end of the shaft, a slide mounted on the propeller for engaging the dog, and means supported independently of the propeller for engaging and moving the slide to release the gate.

5. In game apparatus of the class described having a rotary propeller adapted to be continuously rotated at a constant speed, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate hinged on the extremity of the propeller, a latch for the gate carried by the propeller, timing mechanism supported independently of the propeller but driven with the propeller for moving the latch automatically to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller.

6. In game apparatus of the class described having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate hinged on an extremity of the propeller, a latch for the gate carried by the propeller, timing mechanism for moving the latch, and a frame supporting said mechanism independently of the propeller and movable to a plurality of positions whereby said mechanism may move said latch to release the projectile at any of a plurality of selected points in the circle of rotation of the propeller.

7. In game apparatus of the class described having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate hinged on an extremity of the propeller, a latch for the gate carried by the propeller, timing mechanism for moving the latch, and a frame supporting said mechanism independently of the propeller and mounted for movement in an arc about the axis of the propeller to any of a plurality of positions whereby said mechanism may move said latch to release the projectile at any of a plurality of selected points in the circle of rotation of the propeller.

8. In game apparatus of the class described having a rotary propeller adapted to be continuously rotated at a constant speed, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate hinged on the extremity of the propeller for retaining a projectile, a latch for the gate slidably mounted on the propeller, timing mechanism for moving the latch to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller, and devices for adr justing the position of said mechanism to change at will within limits a point in the circle of rotation at which the latch releases the gate.

9. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a'shaft mounted on an extremity of the propeller, a gate secured to the shaft, a counterweight secured to the shaft and positioned and adapted under the influence of centrifugal force to place the gate in a position to engage the projectile, and a latch for the gate to limit movement of the gate under the influence of the projectiles centrifugal force.

10. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a shaft mounted on an extremity of the propeller, a gate secured to the shaft, a counterweight secured to the shaft positioned and adapted under the influence of centrifugal force to place the gate in a position to engage the projectile, a latch for the gate to limit movement of the gate under the influence of the projectiles centrifugal force, and means adapted to move the latch to release the gate twice during each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller andso arranged as'to release the projectile at a particular point in the circle of rotation and during a predetermined rotation in the cycle and then to release the latch to permit the counterweight to correct the position of the gate.

11. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a shaft mounted on an extremity of the propeller, a gate secured to the shaft, a counterweight integral with the shaft and the gate, a dog on an outer end of the shaft, a slide mounted on the propeller for engaging the dog, and means adapted to move the slide to release the gate twice during each cycle which inthe propeller and so arranged asito release .the projectile at a .particular point in the circle of rotation and during a predetermined rotation in the cycle and then to release the latch to permit the counterweight to correct the position of the gate.

12. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate, a slide on the propeller for securing and releasing th gate, a rotary shaft supported independently of the propeller,

an arm carried by the shaft andarranged'tocontact and move the slide to release the gate, and driving means for said shaft connected with the propeller so constructed and arranged as to cause said'shaft to be driven at near th same but a difierent rate as the propeller whereby the arm moves the latch to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of th propeller.

13. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a projectile comprising a gate, a slide on the propeller for securing and releasing the gate, a rotary shaft supported independently of the propeller, an arm carried by the shaft and arranged to contact and move the slide to release the gate, driving means for said shaft connected with the propeller so constructed and arranged as to cause said shaft to be driven at near the same but a different rate as the propeller whereby the arm moves the latch to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of retations of the propeller, and a second arm on said shaft also adapted to move the slide but at a second point in the cycle.

14. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a proto be driven at near the same but adifferent rate as the propeller whereby the arm moves the latch to release the gate at a predetermined point in a circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the pro-. peller,'and a frame supporting. said shaft and mounted for movement in an are about the axis of the propeller to aplurality of positions in such a manner as to,release the projectile at any of a plurality ofselected points inthe circle of rotaion of the propeller.

15. In a mechanical projector having a rotary propeller, holding and releasing means for a pro-- jectile comprising a gate, a slide on the propeller for securing and releasing the gate, a shaft supported independently of the propeller, an arm carried by the shaft and arranged to contact and move the slide to release the gate, gearing connecting the propeller and the shaft so constructed and arranged as to caus said shaft to be driven at near the same but a different rate as the propeller whereby the arm moves the latch to release the gate at a predetermined point in the circle of rotation of the propeller during a certain rotation in each cycle which includes a predetermined plurality of rotations of the propeller, and a frame supporting said shaft and said gearing mounted for movement in an are about the axis of the propeller to a plurality of positions in such a manner as to release the projectile at any of a plurality of selected points in the circle of rotation of the propeller.

i JOSEPH E. SCALLY. 

